Chapter 1

Chapter Text

"Hey, you gonna be okay?" Slate grey eyes watched Sakura slump in upon herself.

"Of course." She turned to him with a bright smile on her face, as fake as her marriage of three years, as false as the man walking away from them, down the only road that led in and out of Konohagakure.

Sakura turned back one last time to watch Sasuke walk away from her.

"None of that…" Kakashi nodded to the disappearing figure of Sasuke Uchiha, the last Uchiha of Konoha. "...was your fault."

"I know but, it still hurts." Sakura dropped the fake smile, leaning into her old sensei's side as he stepped up beside her, his arm falling casually over her shoulder.

"Come on Sakura. I'll let you buy me dinner." Kakashi shoved his other hand into his pocket and crinkled his eyes at her.

A soft giggle slipped past her lips before she could stop herself. Meeting Kakashi's eyes she let herself go and laughed out loud. It was like a weight had been lifted from her chest. It felt like freedom in a way. She took a deep breath. Yeah, she was going to be okay.

"I'll buy dinner sensei, but tomorrow you have to come in for your annual check up. Starting now, I'm not just going to sign off on your paperwork, understand?" She fixed Kakashi with a stern green gaze that brokered no argument.

"Sure sure." He humoured his old student. "I'll come visit you tomorrow at work, Sakura. All you had to do was ask you know, you didn't have to try to 'trick' me into coming to see you."

Sakura's smile faded from her lips. Was Kakashi sensei flirting with her? Impossible.

"Right." She stretched her arms up and over her head, arching her back. "Where did you want to eat old man?"

Kakashi grinned at her from under his mask. "There's a new dumpling place on the far end of the market. Have you been there yet?"

Sakura shook her head.

"Great." Kakashi pulled her closer, his arm still around her neck and began walking to the other end of the village with her tucked up into his side.

Sakura blushed at their close contact. "Uh Kakashi?"

The Copy nin looked down at the pinkette. "Yeah?"

"Uh, nothing nevermind." Sakura blushed and looked at her feet as they walked down the street together. She was reading too much into it. Kakashi wasn't interested in her like that. She was so stupid, she berated herself.

Kakashi smirked from under the cover of his mask. Sasuke and Sakura had tried to make it work but the demons of Sasuke's past refused to die. Kakashi, understood this better than most and unlike the rest of them, hadn't tried to make the Uchiha stay. In fact, he thought it best for everyone, particularly Sakura if he left and never came back.

Sakura had grown into a very beautiful woman over the years, but more than that, she had become a very skilled and powerful kunoichi and healer. Her efforts in the last great war had only boosted her growing popularity. Personally, Kakashi thought the more successful Sakura became the worse her relationship with Sasuke had gotten. The boy had never been one for close quarter competition.

Then again, not everyone's teammates were the nine tailed jinchuuriki and the Fifth Hokage's apprentice. Even being the last Uchiha was little in comparison to the blonde and the pinkette in the broad scheme of things. Sasuke's defect at the age of thirteen hadn't been forgotten either. Even though the war was over, had been over for almost five years now, betrayal as deep as Sasuke's would take a lot longer for the world to forget.

Naruto could shout his forgiveness from the rooftops and Sakura could swear up and down until she was blue in the face that she forgave him, but Kakashi knew better. Too many had died, too much love had been lost between the three for any of them to ever be the same again. No, they might claim they forgave him, but he knew they didn't, not really, not in their hearts where it mattered the most.

As for Kakashi, he would never forgive Sasuke Uchiha for what he did to their team, for what he continued to do to Konoha, by existing.

Kakashi didn't adhere to the 'better late than never' turn of phrase Sakura had clung to for the last three years. Sometimes too late meant too bad as far as Kakashi was concerned. However, perhaps he needed to give it a bit more thought.

Perhaps he should take his own advice.

She could feel the curious eyes on them as they made their way to the otherside of the village. She could hear the tongues wagging in the stands as they passed.

"Did he leave yet? Good riddance."

"He never should have come back, I don't care if he helped save the village maybe it wouldn't have needed to be saved if he hadn't betrayed us."

"Poor girl, I never did see what she saw in him."

Kakashi could feel Sakura's shoulders stiffen under the weight of their words. She didn't need this right now, he should have offered to buy her dinner, brought it to her at home instead.

"Sakura." He began.

"It's fine. It doesn't bother me." She lied. She knew what he was going to say. "I can't stop them from talking, you know that."

He did. It didn't mean he didn't want to shield her from it though, if he could.

Ten minutes later they were sitting side by side at the bar of the cutest dumpling shop Sakura had ever seen. "When did this open up?" She didn't even know it was here.

"While you were working nonstop without a breath for the last month." He teased her. "I think your mail has been rerouted to your office at the hospital, you're always there."

Sakura laughed. "I may have fallen asleep on the couch in my office once or twice." She paused.

"Six times." Kakashi set his menu down.

"Six times." She admitted. "...but I don't live there. I go home once in a while. I'm eating lunch with you now." She pointed out.

"Sakura, how's that plant I gave you doing?" He asked her slyly as he sipped his tea.

"Do you know what you want?" She waved to the proprietor. "Let's order." She ignored his vindicated snort.

"I'll come into the hospital tomorrow for my annual check up Sakura, if you let me buy you dinner tomorrow." Kakashi threw his challenge out of the side of his mouth as they ordered their food.

Three full minutes passed before Sakura spoke. "Are you, is it...I mean dinner would be uh."

"A date." Kakashi watched her fidget in her seat. Was it too soon? Maybe he should have waited…

"Okay." She agreed quietly. "...but slow okay, I want to go slow Kakashi."

"Just the way I like it." He hid his smile in his mask when she blinked at him, then slapped him on the arm.

"Ass." Sakura muttered as she picked up her own cup of tea and sipped.

Chapter 2

Chapter Text

He was waiting for her by the steps of the hospital. How long had he been there? When had he even gotten there? She hadn't felt his chakra signature and she had been looking for it, nervously.

Since his check up earlier that day she hadn't been able to get him out of her mind. The subtle touches, the closeness when she examined his eyes...it was almost painful, her anticipation and she couldn't help but wonder if maybe he felt the same.

He had left her examination room in such a hurry, she wondered.

"Sakura." Kakashi slipped his arm around her shoulders as she stepped down from the last stair onto the walkway beside him. "Did you want to go home and change first or…" He looked down at her clothes. She wasn't wearing her doctor's smock but she did have a coffee stain on the hem of her skirt.

"Mind if I change first?" Sakura looked up at him.

She was taller than she used to be, but still rather short compared to the scarecrow beside her. It was kinda nice. She had never appreciated how tall Kakashi was before, but of course she hadn't been looking either...before now.

"Something wrong?" Kakashi smirked behind his mask. He had noticed her staring at him and was glad he had decided to wear his mask more after transferring his title to Naruto. It kinda felt like old times.

Only this time, Sakura was legal.

"Nothing." Sakura's cheeks warmed a beautiful peony pink as she averted her eyes.

"Are you sure? I don't have something on my face do I?" Kakashi continued to smirk behind his mask as her blush deepened.

"Where did you want to eat Kakashi?" She changed the subject abruptly making him laugh and her scowl.

"Oh, I've got something planned." The former Hokage eye crinkled at the medic. "It's a surprise."

Sakura blinked. Kakashi was being, romantic? "Miracles never cease." She muttered, making Kakashi laugh a full bodied masculine laugh.

"Let's get you changed. I think you'll really like what I have planned for our first date." He led her up the stairs to her apartment building, waited for her to open her door, then made himself at home on her couch while she changed.

Ten minutes later they were walking up the cliffside behind the Hokage Tower just as the sun was setting.

"To the left." Kakashi waved his hand to the left.

"Oh?" Sakura turned to the left pausing at the sight. "Oh!" She covered her mouth with both of her hands.

"Kakashi, it's...beautiful." Sakura turned back around to smile at the white haired jounin in pleasure for his efforts.

"Hinata helped me set it up. I knew your favorite flowers were cosmos. Ino helped me with the flowers, but Naruto picked out the blanket." Kakashi walked forward pulling her by the hand toward the bright orange blanket. "Come on. I made sure to get your favorites."

It was more than Sasuke had done for her in the last three years. Kakashi had thought of everything. Like he had said, there were her favorite flowers scattered strategically over the bright orange blanket, beautifully scented candles that cast a soft glow over their dinner plates, no doubt Hinata's idea.

Sakura noticed Tsunade shisou's black label sake, a rare treat and her favorite foods, all of them. There were anko dumplings, animitsu and shrimp stuffed puffed rice cakes. "You thought of everything didn't you?"

"I want to give you everything he failed to give you in the last three years." Kakashi told her seriously, relieving her of any doubt she may have had about his intentions.

"...but why?" She didn't understand. There had always been this, something, between her and Kakashi but she attributed it to familiarity, to her childhood sensei and to Team 7. This however, was more. Much more than…

"...because you deserve it of course." He reached out for her hand. "It isn't your fault Sasuke never saw how special you were Sakura. You've wasted enough time looking back. It's time to look forward, with me."

A wave of heat washed over her face as he continued to look into her eyes. The back of his hand slowly brushed the loose hair from her cheeks. Was he, he was, wasn't he, he was going to kiss her and...did she want this, what did this mean, oh Kami is this what she wanted…

"Kakashi I…"

"Sakura." Kakashi leaned forward. "I've waited long enough." His arms pulled her to him, his nose ghosted the top of her head.

Surprised Sakura looked up into slate grey eyes.

"I don't want to end up like Sasuke. I don't want to lose my chance to show you how much I care about you, to show you how special you are to me." His mouth fell over hers, his tongue flicking out against her lips.

Her gasp was the only opening he needed to slip his tongue into her sweet mouth.

Sakura's eyes were wide, but she didn't pull away. She could barely breathe but she didn't want him to stop. Sasuke had never kissed her like this before and she realized what she had always known, since they were kids...Sasuke had never loved her, not like this.

"Kakashi." This man would love her the way she had always wanted to be loved, the way she felt she deserved to be loved.

A moan he was unable to hold back escaped between their joined lips as her hands rose to comb through his hair, then tighten possessively, his hair sticking out between her fingers as she moved closer to him, against him and began kissing him back.

"Wanted you." Kakashi gasped in between kisses. "For so long Sakura."

"Didn't know how to tell you but now…" His hands dropped to her skirt, frantically pulling on the ties. "Shit I forgot uh…"

"Shh, just kiss me, don't stop." She pushed him onto his back, one hand sweeping candles, flowers and a dinner plate off to the side as she straddled him. "Please." She whimpered into his mouth.

"Wait Sakura, Naruto he's…" Kakashi tried to lift her off of himself, but she pressed her advantage and ground down into him making him forget the rest of his sentence.

"Uh you guys? If you were going to do this on your first date you should have stayed home." Naruto's voice cut through Sakura's lust filled haze.

Green eyes darted up and to the right where Naruto stood with Hinata, eyes averted, one hand rubbing the back of his head nervously. Hinata was beside him, blushing furiously, her eyes sparkling.

"Uh…" Kakashi grinned up at Sakura. "I tried to tell you."

Chapter 3

Chapter Text

"Yo, what about this one?" Kiba held up a ring the size of a six pence piece.

"Do I look rich to you?" Kakashi frowned at the ring that looked like it cost more than two lifetime worth of salaries.

"Come on old man, we know you're loaded. You never buy dinner, even when we were genin! You never treated us ever!" Naruto, the Seventh Hokage took his Hokage's hat off and scratched at his head. "What kind of ring were you going to get her huh?"

"It should be simple but elegant." Ino interrupted them. "This is Sakura we're talking about! She doesn't like gaudy!" Ino pushed Naruto out of her way and bent over to look at the rings on display.

"A single stone with two smaller ones on either side." Sai's voice cut through the growing babble. "A ruby, for the large stone, and the two smaller ones should be diamonds."

"Oh yeah? Why's that?" Naruto asked, rubbing the back of his head.

"Sakura is a medic nin, she likes blood and diamonds show how innocent she still is of the ways of lecherous older men." Sai said in perfect monotone.

Everyone paused speechless for the spans of two seconds then burst out into raucous laughter.

"Still as creepy as ever Sai, man, wonder when you'll get over that phase?" Naruto laughed, slapping Sai on the back. "He's right though, that sounds good Kakashi."

"Are you sure it isn't too soon?" Kakashi took the ring from the smiling jeweler's fingers and looked at it skeptically.

"Too soon?" Ino scoffed. "You've been in love with her since, like forever! Not too late you mean!" Ino took the ring from Kakashi and turned to the jeweler.

"Wrap this up and put it against Kakashi Hatake's account please." She pulled Kakashi out the door after the jeweler had handed him his parcel. "I'm in charge of the flowers of course, I know the perfect ones. Now, how are you going to ask her? " The blonde demanded.

"Uh, well I just now decided to ask her to marry me so...I haven't decided?" Kakashi blinked.

This was all happening so fast. All he remembered was mentioning to Naruto he wanted to marry Sakura someday and before he knew it he was in the Konoha jeweler's with Ino, Kiba and Naruto looking at rings. When had Kiba and Ino even gotten there, much less Sai!

He didn't know.

"It has to be perfect!" Ino squealed as they walked down the street toward the hospital.

"What has to be perfect, my friends? It is already the most perfect, most beautiful day!" Rock Lee, made gooey eyes at his friends.

"Kakashi is about to propose to Sakura." Naruto informed the new comer.

"Oh Kakashi Sensei! What a glorious day! Love is in the air can you not feel it my friends! I wish you well in this most youthful and joyous event!" Rock Lee somersaulted away into the distance. Kakashi was sure he had seen a star sparkle quickly and fall from the sky at the point in the horizon where the green jumpsuit clad man had disappeared.

"I'm not asking her now!" Kakashi dug his feet in. "With all of you there? No. This is going to be private." Kakashi turned off the street, down the side street that would take him to the park.

"...but Kakashi!" Ino began to protest.

"Absolutely not Ino." Kakashi kept walking, weaving the hand signs as he went, then disappeared as he stepped around a tree.

"Spread out, find him!" Naruto directed his shinobi. "Tell the others! We need to make sure this is perfect! It's for Sakura!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.

"FOR SAKURA!" They chorused.

Kakashi groaned. He just wanted a simple ring and a simple proposal, he didn't want...all of this.

Chapter 4

Chapter Text

Sakura was in her office when she heard the shouting. "What is going on out there?" She rose from her desk and moved to the window to see what everyone was shouting about as a blur leapt through her office window, making her stagger back into her chair.

"Hey!" She shouted out, just before Kakashi's hands covered her mouth.

"Sakura it's me! Shh!" He pulled her back and away from the window, down to the ground, then under the cover of her desk as her office door burst open in the form of Ino and Naruto.

Sakura stared wide-eyed at Kakashi and he shook his head back and forth silently, willing her to remain quiet.

"Man! I thought for sure he would come here of all places!" Ino stomped her foot on the ground, her hands on her hips as she strode back and forth in front of Sakura's desk.

"He would know that we would know, he would come here. He avoided her office on purpose. I told you he wouldn't come here no, he has to be in the woods!" Naruto ran out of the office.

"The woods? Why would Kakashi sensei propose to Sakura in the woods? Naruto! You're an idiot." Ino ran out of Sakura's office leaving Kakashi and Sakura alone once more.

"Propose?" Sakura stared at Kakashi.

He had dropped his hand from her mouth as soon as Ino and Naruto had left.

"You're going to propose?" Sakura asked her old sensei.

"Uh." Kakashi pulled the small box out from his pocket and opened it for Sakura to see. "I was thinking about it."

Sakura looked down into the box. "It's beautiful."

"Is that a yes then?" He waited.

"Is that how you're going to ask me?" She countered.

"Not if you're going to say no it isn't." He closed the box and began to put it back into his pocket.

"Wait Kakashi." Sakura leaned forward and took his face between her fingers and palms. "Are you sure?"

"Sakura, I've been sure for the last five years, longer if I'm honest. I love you, it's always been you." Kakashi watched her eyes mist over, he didn't dare blink and miss a single moment. "So? Will you marry me then?"

"Yes." Sakura closed her eyes and smiled. "Yes, I'll marry you Kakashi."